Is Love A Click Away? The Ultimate Guide To Online Dating Sites

From Match to How About We, here are the must-know details on 10 popular dating sites.

Remember when you used to be shocked when you'd hear about a couple who met online? Now, with over 1,500 dating sites at our disposal, online dating feels like the backbone of picking a partner.

It's easy, convenient, less daunting, and you can find sites geared toward exactly what you're looking for, whether it's a soulmate or a hookup buddy.

But before you dive head — and heart — first into the mad world of online dating — a guide is needed.

Here's what you need to know about some of the popular or newest sites that are just a click away.

1. Match

Who it's for: The site is geared toward single men and women (gay and straight). It's basically the Facebook of the online dating realm, so you'll never feel like you're missing out on potential suitors.

The skinny on the sign up process: It's pretty basic. Joining is free and so is creating your profile.

How much it costs: It's free to set up your own account and profile, but once you want to message someone you're interested in, the subscription fees kick in. A basic Match.com account costs $29.99 a month.

Why you should try it: In addition to searching, and being able to see what other members are looking for, each day the granddaddy of dating sites gives you six potential matches for you based off your search criteria. You can rate them and decide if you're interested.

2. eHarmony

Who it's for: Heterosexuals looking for long-term relationships. In the same way Match.com was a pioneer of its time, eHarmony was the first site to match you to another person by matching your compatibility.

The skinny on the sign up process: Because the site does all the matching for you, you have to hand over answers to more than 400 questions. But there's a silver lining: after the 400 questionnaire has been answered, you'll see detailed results on what you bring to a relationship — and what should look for in a mate.

How much it costs: A monthly membership is nearly 60 bucks, but if you commit for 3, 6, or even 12 months, the price-tag drops considerably.